The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia are set to implement the energy cooperation that was signed last month.
In a statement on Wednesday, Nov. 6, the DOE and Saudi Arabia announced a series of bilateral meetings to develop a roadmap for implementing petroleum derivatives, native hydrogen exploration, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), management of digital technology for electrical systems, and energy efficiency, among other topics included in the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The roadmap is set to be finalized in three months and will be presented to Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud and Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla, with Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales to lead the bilateral discussions.
“I welcome the joint efforts by both countries to implement the provisions of the MOU, which is a direct follow-through of the discussions held during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Saudi Arabia in October last year. During that visit, Saudi state-owned companies expressed strong interest in investing in the Philippine energy sector,” Lotilla said.
The update on partnerships stemmed from an MOU on energy cooperation signed on October 14, wherein the two countries would potentially develop and deploy low-carbon technologies such as joint research projects, policy exchange, and capacity building within carbon capture, utilization, storage, as well as hydrogen developments.
“Prince Abdulaziz and his team expressed interest in our native or naturally occurring hydrogen resources. Given Saudi Arabia’s extensive expertise in the exploration and development of upstream sectors, this cooperation holds promising benefits for both countries,” Lotilla added.
In terms of hydrogen-related developments, the DOE noted that Precambrian crystalline shields and serpentinized ultramafic rocks are abundant in the Philippines; two prospect areas in the Zambales Ophiolite Complex were offered for hydrogen exploration, as winning bidders are said to be awarded soon.
“On SAF, an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil-based jet fuel, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set global targets for SAF usage in commercial and civilian aviation,” the DOE said.
The DOE added that coconuts as feedstock have been seen as one of the pathways for SAF production since the country is the world’s second-largest coconut producer with nearly 15 million tons being produced annually.
This volume is seen as a leverage not only for food and oil utilization but on SAF production as well.
“We will also jointly explore the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the management of our electrical systems and broader energy infrastructure,” the DOE chief said.
Moreover, the Philippine-Saudi Arabia partnership aims to boost the country’s energy network through smarter grids, automated control systems, and data-driven decision-making that can minimize waste, enhance resource utilization, and bolster energy security.
“Saudi Arabia, traditionally known for its vast oil reserves, has advanced its energy efficiency goals through the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP), which focuses on regulations, standards, and incentives. By partnering with Saudi Arabia, the Philippines seeks to adopt cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies and best practices that could lower energy consumption, reduce costs, and contribute to sustainability,” the DOE stated.